As Appalachian coal production continues its drastic decline, West Virginia’s coal-producing counties are not only losing people as lifelong residents are forced to flee their homes in order to find work, but in many cases, they’re also relinquishing millions of dollars from their budgets.

As Appalachian coal production continues its drastic decline, West Virginia’s coal-producing counties are not only losing people as lifelong residents are forced to flee their homes in order to find work, but in many cases, they’re also relinquishing millions of dollars from their budgets.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — The Youngstown city council approved
an anti-fracking amendment for the May 7 primary election ballot — even
though there are doubts about whether it could be enforced.

The Vindicator newspaper reports that the council on Wednesday night approved the charter
amendment for the ballot. It would ban the gas drilling process known as
hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the city.

Law Director
Anthony Farris said the council had no choice but to move the proposal
to the ballot after a group called Frack Free Mahoning Valley collected
about 4,000 signatures calling for it. The group needs just 1,562 valid
signatures to get the measure to the voters.

Because the state
regulates gas drilling, city officials said the ban would probably be
unenforceable, although members of the activist group disagree.